No. A Teams Phone Standard license gives a user the phone system, and the number comes from whichever carrier connects your Teams tenant to the public phone network. A Calling Plan makes Microsoft that carrier, whether you buy it separately or inside the Teams Phone with Calling Plan bundle. Even then, an administrator has to get the number from Microsoft and assign it to the user.
\n","summary":"No. A Teams Phone license provides the phone system, and phone numbers come from the carrier that connects Teams to the public phone network. A Calling Plan makes Microsoft that carrier. Numbers are acquired or ported, then assigned, and Shared Calling lets a group of users share one number.","publishedAt":"2026-06-02T03:39:27.013","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","editorialStatus":"APPROVED","lastReviewedAt":"2026-10-10T03:45:05.433","nextReviewDueAt":"2026-10-17T00:00:00","templateVersion":"v2","aliases":["Does Teams Phone Standard come with a phone number?","Do I get a phone number with a Teams Phone license?","Is a phone number included in Microsoft Teams Phone?","Does Teams Phone include PSTN calling?","Do you need a calling plan to get a Teams phone number?","How do you get a phone number for Microsoft Teams?","Does Microsoft 365 E5 include a phone number for Teams?","Teams Phone license vs calling plan","Does Teams Phone come with a number or do you buy one?","Where do Teams Phone numbers come from?","Can I keep my existing number with Teams Phone?","Is a phone number part of Teams Phone Standard?"],"confidenceScore":96,"confidenceLabel":"High","canonicalUrl":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"contributorOrganizationProfile":null,"contributorPerson":null,"sections":[{"id":"cd887fa6-e074-437b-a2e0-5868d3626d20","sectionKey":"what_the_license_gives","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"What the license gives a user","introMarkdown":"Teams Phone Standard is [a hosted telephone service with PBX capabilities](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-add-on-licensing/microsoft-teams-add-on-licensing). A PBX is the switchboard a business uses to handle its own calls, and the features Microsoft lists are the ones you'd expect from it: cloud voicemail, call forwarding, call transfer, auto attendants, call queues and caller ID. The [Teams Phone license a given user needs](https://www.answerstack.io/q/what-teams-phone-license-do-i-need) depends on the Microsoft subscription they already have.\n\nA phone number isn't on that list, and Microsoft says so in its guide to [getting telephone numbers in Teams](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/manage-phone-numbers-landing-page): \"Telephone numbers aren't included with Teams Phone licensing.\" Numbers come from the service provider that connects your tenant to the public switched telephone network, or PSTN. That is the network landlines and mobiles are on.\n\nSo a Teams user who has been licensed and set up for Teams Phone, with no carrier connection behind them, has the phone system's features and nothing for an outside caller to dial. The number arrives with the carrier connection, and Microsoft supports four of those.","introHtml":"Teams Phone Standard is a hosted telephone service with PBX capabilities. A PBX is the switchboard a business uses to handle its own calls, and the features Microsoft lists are the ones you'd expect from it: cloud voicemail, call forwarding, call transfer, auto attendants, call queues and caller ID. The Teams Phone license a given user needs depends on the Microsoft subscription they already have.
\nA phone number isn't on that list, and Microsoft says so in its guide to getting telephone numbers in Teams: "Telephone numbers aren't included with Teams Phone licensing." Numbers come from the service provider that connects your tenant to the public switched telephone network, or PSTN. That is the network landlines and mobiles are on.
\nSo a Teams user who has been licensed and set up for Teams Phone, with no carrier connection behind them, has the phone system's features and nothing for an outside caller to dial. The number arrives with the carrier connection, and Microsoft supports four of those.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":10},{"id":"58afe526-391c-4252-8174-7dfe7f6202fe","sectionKey":"who_supplies_number_table","sectionType":"table_section","heading":"Who supplies the number on each route","introMarkdown":null,"introHtml":null,"outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{"rows":[{"cells":["Microsoft Calling Plan","Microsoft"]},{"cells":["Operator Connect","The participating phone company you sign a contract with"]},{"cells":["Teams Phone Mobile","A participating mobile operator, which uses the number on the user's SIM"]},{"cells":["Direct Routing","The carrier you connect through a session border controller"]}],"columns":["Connection to the phone network","Who supplies the phone numbers"]},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":20},{"id":"f9e6c3f5-8c76-4654-abb8-93a5a90e0ddc","sectionKey":"microsoft_numbers","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"When Microsoft supplies the number","introMarkdown":"A Calling Plan is the license that makes Microsoft your carrier. You can buy it on top of Teams Phone Standard or as part of the Teams Phone with Calling Plan bundle. Either way, [Teams Phone and a Calling Plan are two products](https://www.answerstack.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-teams-phone-and-a-calling-plan): the first is the phone system and the second is the carrier service.\n\nThe plan gives you the right to request numbers. You must have [at least one Calling Plan license assigned in your tenant](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/getting-phone-numbers-for-your-users) before you can acquire any from Microsoft. An administrator then orders them in the Teams admin center and assigns each one to a user.\n\nThe number of licenses sets how many user numbers you can request. For Domestic and International plans, the allowance is the license count multiplied by 1.1, plus ten. A Pay-As-You-Go license allows one number. Microsoft's own example is a company with 30 users on Domestic or International plans and 20 on Pay-As-You-Go, which can acquire 63 numbers. Numbers you bring from another carrier don't count against that limit.\n\nA license also doesn't promise that the number you want is available. A search can come back empty for the area you asked for. In some countries, Microsoft supplies numbers only through its support team, and lead times vary by country and number type.","introHtml":"A Calling Plan is the license that makes Microsoft your carrier. You can buy it on top of Teams Phone Standard or as part of the Teams Phone with Calling Plan bundle. Either way, Teams Phone and a Calling Plan are two products: the first is the phone system and the second is the carrier service.
\nThe plan gives you the right to request numbers. You must have at least one Calling Plan license assigned in your tenant before you can acquire any from Microsoft. An administrator then orders them in the Teams admin center and assigns each one to a user.
\nThe number of licenses sets how many user numbers you can request. For Domestic and International plans, the allowance is the license count multiplied by 1.1, plus ten. A Pay-As-You-Go license allows one number. Microsoft's own example is a company with 30 users on Domestic or International plans and 20 on Pay-As-You-Go, which can acquire 63 numbers. Numbers you bring from another carrier don't count against that limit.
\nA license also doesn't promise that the number you want is available. A search can come back empty for the area you asked for. In some countries, Microsoft supplies numbers only through its support team, and lead times vary by country and number type.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":30},{"id":"344d1bab-7915-42ba-9c38-f89d4e1495c1","sectionKey":"carrier_numbers","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"When a carrier supplies the number","introMarkdown":"On the other three routes, the phone company supplies the numbers, and its charge is separate from your Microsoft licensing. Under Operator Connect, [providing and porting telephone numbers](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/operator-connect-plan) is the operator's responsibility. Porting means moving a number you already have from your current carrier to the new one. So you can buy new numbers from the operator or port the ones you have. Once you enable the operator in the Teams admin center, you assign its numbers to your licensed users there.\n\nAtlantech Online shows how this looks from the carrier's side. Its [Operator Connect page](https://www.atlantech.net/solutions/voice/operatorconnect) publishes a flat rate for the carrier service of \"as low as $3 per user/month\" and lists unlimited calling in the US and number porting as included. The same page says customers can keep their existing phone numbers. The $3 is a starting rate. Atlantech quotes each organization, so a given customer's price can be higher.\n\nMicrosoft licensing is a separate matter from that rate. Operator Connect requires a Teams Phone license, and a user who already has that entitlement doesn't need a second one. Microsoft 365 E5, for example, [includes the phone system](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-phone-licensing). So [what Teams Phone costs](https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-much-does-teams-phone-cost) for a user with a direct number is the Microsoft licensing plus the carrier's service.\n\nTeams Phone Mobile and Direct Routing follow the same division. With Teams Phone Mobile, the number is the one on a company-provided SIM, and the mobile operator makes it available in your tenant. With Direct Routing, the numbers come from the carrier connected through a session border controller, the device that sits between a carrier's network and Teams. [Choosing among the four routes](https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-do-i-choose-a-pstn-connectivity-option-for-teams-phone) depends on which carriers serve your users, whether a number has to be on a SIM and what equipment you already have.","introHtml":"On the other three routes, the phone company supplies the numbers, and its charge is separate from your Microsoft licensing. Under Operator Connect, providing and porting telephone numbers is the operator's responsibility. Porting means moving a number you already have from your current carrier to the new one. So you can buy new numbers from the operator or port the ones you have. Once you enable the operator in the Teams admin center, you assign its numbers to your licensed users there.
\nAtlantech Online shows how this looks from the carrier's side. Its Operator Connect page publishes a flat rate for the carrier service of "as low as $3 per user/month" and lists unlimited calling in the US and number porting as included. The same page says customers can keep their existing phone numbers. The $3 is a starting rate. Atlantech quotes each organization, so a given customer's price can be higher.
\nMicrosoft licensing is a separate matter from that rate. Operator Connect requires a Teams Phone license, and a user who already has that entitlement doesn't need a second one. Microsoft 365 E5, for example, includes the phone system. So what Teams Phone costs for a user with a direct number is the Microsoft licensing plus the carrier's service.
\nTeams Phone Mobile and Direct Routing follow the same division. With Teams Phone Mobile, the number is the one on a company-provided SIM, and the mobile operator makes it available in your tenant. With Direct Routing, the numbers come from the carrier connected through a session border controller, the device that sits between a carrier's network and Teams. Choosing among the four routes depends on which carriers serve your users, whether a number has to be on a SIM and what equipment you already have.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":40},{"id":"e903a6fc-ce40-4744-8104-054d65afbeef","sectionKey":"shared_calling","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Not every user needs a number of their own","introMarkdown":"You don't have to give every licensed user a number. [Shared Calling](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/shared-calling-plan) is a Teams Phone feature built for people who rarely call outside the company. A group of users makes and receives outside calls through one number, which belongs to a resource account attached to an auto attendant.\n\nThe people they call see the auto attendant's number as the caller ID. Anyone who calls that number reaches the auto attendant, which routes the call to the right person. Each of those users still needs a Teams Phone license, and the setup steps tell you not to assign them a number.\n\nSuppose an office has 40 people and a carrier connection set up for Shared Calling. Eight of them are in sales and need a direct line, and the other 32 make an outside call a few times a week. The eight get direct numbers, and the 32 share the main number on the auto attendant. All 40 are licensed for Teams Phone, so the count of licenses and the count of direct numbers come apart. The Shared Calling policy also names the numbers used as emergency callback numbers, so those count toward the numbers the office needs.","introHtml":"You don't have to give every licensed user a number. Shared Calling is a Teams Phone feature built for people who rarely call outside the company. A group of users makes and receives outside calls through one number, which belongs to a resource account attached to an auto attendant.
\nThe people they call see the auto attendant's number as the caller ID. Anyone who calls that number reaches the auto attendant, which routes the call to the right person. Each of those users still needs a Teams Phone license, and the setup steps tell you not to assign them a number.
\nSuppose an office has 40 people and a carrier connection set up for Shared Calling. Eight of them are in sales and need a direct line, and the other 32 make an outside call a few times a week. The eight get direct numbers, and the 32 share the main number on the auto attendant. All 40 are licensed for Teams Phone, so the count of licenses and the count of direct numbers come apart. The Shared Calling policy also names the numbers used as emergency callback numbers, so those count toward the numbers the office needs.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":50},{"id":"75094e76-65db-4366-a014-b30b6c4d740f","sectionKey":"service_and_meeting_numbers","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Numbers that belong to a service or a meeting","introMarkdown":"A Teams tenant can hold numbers that no person owns. Microsoft sorts numbers by use: user numbers for people, voice app numbers for auto attendants and call queues, and conference numbers for meetings. A main line answered by an auto attendant or a call queue uses a voice app number on that resource account. Teams Phone Mobile [supports user numbers only](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity), so a main line of that kind has to come through one of the other routes.\n\nThe dial-in number printed on a Teams meeting invitation is a conference number. It comes with Audio Conferencing, a separate add-on that doesn't require a Teams Phone license. Seeing that number on an invitation says nothing about whether you have a phone number of your own. A user has one when an administrator has assigned a number to their account, and you can see that in the Teams admin center.","introHtml":"A Teams tenant can hold numbers that no person owns. Microsoft sorts numbers by use: user numbers for people, voice app numbers for auto attendants and call queues, and conference numbers for meetings. A main line answered by an auto attendant or a call queue uses a voice app number on that resource account. Teams Phone Mobile supports user numbers only, so a main line of that kind has to come through one of the other routes.
\nThe dial-in number printed on a Teams meeting invitation is a conference number. It comes with Audio Conferencing, a separate add-on that doesn't require a Teams Phone license. Seeing that number on an invitation says nothing about whether you have a phone number of your own. A user has one when an administrator has assigned a number to their account, and you can see that in the Teams admin center.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":60}],"citations":[{"title":"What is Teams Phone","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-is-phone-system-in-office-365","excerpt":"A PSTN solution is separate from a Teams Phone license. A PSTN solution provides a customer's tenant with phone numbers and PSTN access to domestic, international, and emergency calling. The Teams Phone license entitles a Teams user to enhanced calling capabilities within the tenant and access to the PSTN solution.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Teams Phone is call control and PBX in Microsoft 365; a PSTN solution is separate from a Teams Phone license and provides the tenant's phone numbers and PSTN access, while the license entitles the user to enhanced calling and access to the PSTN solution","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Microsoft - PSTN connectivity options","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity","excerpt":"In order to use PSTN telephony services with Teams Phone, the user account must be licensed with the Teams Phone application and also be equipped with a PSTN solution from your PSTN service provider of choice. The PSTN service provider serves as your partner to provide your M365/Teams users with the basic requirements of: access to the PSTN... allocation of telephone numbers for your enterprise.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"The four PSTN options (Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect, Teams Phone Mobile, Direct Routing), who supplies phone numbers under each, that the PSTN provider allocates telephone numbers, that the user must be licensed with Teams Phone plus a PSTN solution, and that a tenant can combine options","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft"},{"title":"Acquire phone numbers for your organization - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/manage-phone-numbers-landing-page","excerpt":"Telephone numbers aren't included with Teams Phone licensing. Telephone numbers for your tenant are acquired through the service provider that provides your tenant with connectivity and access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Telephone numbers are not included with Teams Phone licensing; numbers are acquired through the PSTN service provider that supplies connectivity; number usage types (user/subscriber, voice app, conference)","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Teams Phone licensing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-phone-licensing","excerpt":"A PSTN solution is separate from a Teams Phone license... With Shared Calling, end users don't need a dedicated phone number or a calling plan. They only require a license for Teams Phone.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Adding PSTN is a separate prerequisite from licensing; Microsoft 365 E5 includes the Phone System application so no separate Teams Phone Standard is needed; Teams Phone with Calling Plan bundle; Shared Calling lets users share one resource-account number without a dedicated number or calling plan","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Microsoft Teams Calling Plans","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/calling-plans-for-office-365","excerpt":"This solution is the simplest option that connects Teams Phone to the PSTN for external calling. With this option, Microsoft acts as your PSTN carrier... You must first purchase a Teams Phone add-on license.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"With a Calling Plan Microsoft acts as your PSTN carrier; Domestic, International, and Pay-As-You-Go options; you must first purchase a Teams Phone add-on license, then buy a Calling Plan; Calling Plans are sold only where available","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Get Microsoft Calling Plan telephone numbers for your organization - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/getting-phone-numbers-for-your-users","excerpt":"Calling Plan license is a prerequisite for acquiring phone numbers. To acquire telephone numbers from Microsoft, you must have at least one Microsoft Calling Plan license assigned in your tenant.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"A Calling Plan license is a prerequisite for acquiring numbers from Microsoft; the Add phone numbers wizard in the Teams admin center with Microsoft as operator; user/subscriber vs service number quantities tied to license counts; ported numbers are excluded from the quantity limits","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Microsoft Teams Phone","url":"https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/microsoft-teams-phone","excerpt":"Teams Phone Standard $10.00 user/month, paid yearly. Add PSTN service with Teams Calling Plans, Operator Connect or Direct Routing. Teams Phone with Calling Plan $17.00 user/month: phone number with 3,000 outbound domestic calling minutes from Microsoft.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Teams Phone Standard $10 per user per month with no calling plan included (add PSTN separately); Teams Phone with Calling Plan $17 includes a phone number and 3,000 outbound domestic minutes; Teams Phone with Pay-as-you-go Calling $13 includes a number with metered minutes","domain":"microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft"},{"title":"Microsoft Teams add-on licenses - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-add-on-licensing/microsoft-teams-add-on-licensing","excerpt":"Teams Phone requires a separate add-on license. For Teams Phone only, buy a Teams Phone Standard license. For users to make and receive external calls using the PSTN, you'll need to choose a PSTN connectivity option as well.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Teams Phone Standard is a hosted PBX add-on (cloud voicemail, call forwarding, transfer, auto attendants, call queues, caller ID); Teams Phone requires a separate add-on license and a separately chosen PSTN connectivity option for external calls; every PSTN option (Operator Connect, Teams Phone Mobi","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Transfer phone numbers to Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/phone-number-calling-plans/transfer-phone-numbers-to-teams","excerpt":"This article is an accompaniment for IT professionals and Teams Phone administrators in the process of porting phone numbers to Microsoft Teams Calling Plans... you download the Letter of Authorization, get it signed, upload it, and submit to Microsoft.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"You can port existing numbers to Microsoft Teams Calling Plans via a port order and a Letter of Authorization signed by the account's authorized user; Microsoft manages fulfillment with the current carrier and becomes the service provider of record","domain":"learn.microsoft.com","publisherName":"Microsoft Learn"},{"title":"Microsoft Teams Phone System Pricing & Plans: Full Guide for 2026","url":"https://www.cloudtalk.io/blog/microsoft-teams-phone-system-pricing/","excerpt":"No calling plan included, must add separately... Phone numbers are not included by default and must be purchased or connected separately.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Independent corroboration current to 2026 that Teams Phone Standard at $10 per user per month has no calling plan and that phone numbers are not included by default and must be purchased or connected separately, while Teams Phone with Calling Plan (about $17) bundles a number and minutes","domain":"cloudtalk.io","publisherName":"CloudTalk"},{"title":"Microsoft Teams License - Which one you Need for Microsoft Teams Phone","url":"https://www.pure-ip.com/blog/microsoft-teams-license-which-one-you-need-for-microsoft-teams-phone","excerpt":"Teams Phone Standard enables Teams to work as a phone. However, to activate this feature, users also need to have phone connectivity.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Independent telecom explainer confirming Teams Phone Standard provides the calling capability but users also need separate phone connectivity (a Calling Plan, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing) to obtain numbers and make external calls","domain":"pure-ip.com","publisherName":"Pure IP"},{"title":"Microsoft Operator Connect Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It","url":"https://www.atlantech.net/blog/microsoft-operator-connect-explained","excerpt":"The telecom operator assumes responsibility for phone numbers, call routing, PSTN connectivity, and the underlying voice network.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"SUPPORTING","verifiedAt":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","supportsText":"Business-facing explainer that under Operator Connect the certified telecom operator provides the phone numbers, call routing, and PSTN connectivity while Microsoft maintains the Teams Phone platform; corroborated by [2] and [8]","domain":"atlantech.net","publisherName":"Atlantech Online"}],"revisions":[{"revisedAt":"2026-07-18T03:39:27.013+00:00","versionLabel":"Originally published","note":"","reviewedBy":null}],"relatedAnswers":[{"id":"1993a40e-6259-4856-9885-d80d2aaf68f1","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-direct-routing-and-operator-connect","question":"What is the difference between Direct Routing and Operator Connect?","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T03:39:37.83","confidenceScore":94,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Both connect Teams Phone to the public phone network through a carrier other than Microsoft. Operator Connect uses a carrier in Microsoft's program that has already built the connection. Direct Routing uses a carrier you choose through a session border controller run by you, an integrator or a provider, and allows more custom integration.","url":"/q/what-is-the-difference-between-direct-routing-and-operator-connect"},{"id":"8317c7a7-d7a6-4a7c-8428-441b19177913","slug":"how-do-i-choose-a-pstn-connectivity-option-for-teams-phone","question":"How do I choose a PSTN connectivity option for Teams Phone?","publishedAt":"2026-08-03T03:43:05.249","confidenceScore":88,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Start with who you want as your carrier. A Calling Plan makes it Microsoft, Operator Connect uses a participating phone company, Teams Phone Mobile puts the number on a SIM, and Direct Routing connects a carrier you choose or existing equipment through a session border controller. One tenant can combine them.","url":"/q/how-do-i-choose-a-pstn-connectivity-option-for-teams-phone"},{"id":"67fc8518-2dba-4c3b-8029-0a39c59afd28","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-teams-phone-and-a-calling-plan","question":"What is the difference between Teams Phone and a Calling Plan?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T03:41:44.225","confidenceScore":86,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Teams Phone is the phone system license and a Calling Plan is carrier service from Microsoft. Anyone in Teams who calls outside numbers needs Teams Phone; a Calling Plan applies only where Microsoft is the carrier.","url":"/q/what-is-the-difference-between-teams-phone-and-a-calling-plan"},{"id":"856a2341-d0c5-4496-a8d2-d97388060c1c","slug":"how-much-does-teams-phone-cost","question":"How much does Teams Phone cost?","publishedAt":"2026-06-09T03:40:01.318","confidenceScore":76,"confidenceLabel":"Medium","industry":{"id":"ff619d7c-d7d7-485e-a05a-53fba07f33ed","slug":"telecommunications","label":"Telecommunications","description":"Business voice, fiber, UCaaS, and network services"},"topic":{"slug":"teams-phone","label":"Teams Phone","description":"Microsoft Teams Phone: licensing, PSTN connectivity, calling plans, and setup.","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"In the US, Microsoft lists Teams Phone Standard at $10 per user per month, paid yearly, with no outside calling. Bundles with Microsoft calling are $13, $17 and $34. Each assumes a Teams license. With a carrier, a user who needs the add-on costs $10 plus the carrier's charge, such as Atlantech's published floor of $3 per user per month.","url":"/q/how-much-does-teams-phone-cost"}],"contributorStats":{"verifiedAnswers":149,"openDisputes":0},"schemaJson":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Question","name":"Does a Teams Phone license include a phone number?","text":"Does a Teams Phone license include a phone number?","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/does-a-teams-phone-license-include-a-phone-number","answerCount":1,"datePublished":"2026-06-02T03:39:27.013","about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"Teams Phone"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Telecommunications"}],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. A Teams Phone Standard license gives a user the phone system, and the number comes from whichever carrier connects your Teams tenant to the public phone network. A Calling Plan makes Microsoft that carrier, whether you buy it separately or inside the Teams Phone with Calling Plan bundle. Even then, an administrator has to get the number from Microsoft and assign it to the user.","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/does-a-teams-phone-license-include-a-phone-number","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2026-06-02T03:39:27.013","dateModified":"2026-07-17T00:00:00","citation":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"What is Teams Phone","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/what-is-phone-system-in-office-365"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft - PSTN connectivity options","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/pstn-connectivity"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Acquire phone numbers for your organization - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/manage-phone-numbers-landing-page"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Teams Phone licensing - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-phone-licensing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Teams Calling Plans","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/calling-plans-for-office-365"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Get Microsoft Calling Plan telephone numbers for your organization - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/getting-phone-numbers-for-your-users"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Teams Phone","url":"https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/microsoft-teams-phone"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Teams add-on licenses - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-add-on-licensing/microsoft-teams-add-on-licensing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Transfer phone numbers to Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/phone-number-calling-plans/transfer-phone-numbers-to-teams"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Teams Phone System Pricing & Plans: Full Guide for 2026","url":"https://www.cloudtalk.io/blog/microsoft-teams-phone-system-pricing/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Teams License - Which one you Need for Microsoft Teams Phone","url":"https://www.pure-ip.com/blog/microsoft-teams-license-which-one-you-need-for-microsoft-teams-phone"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Microsoft Operator Connect Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It","url":"https://www.atlantech.net/blog/microsoft-operator-connect-explained"}]}}}